"Offshore wind is a chimera and a dangerous one at that" - Renewable Energy Magazine (press release): "Offshore

What is your opinion on the way feed-in tariffs have been applied around the world? Have they been a success? Could the negative impacts of feed-in tariff cuts such as those experienced by the solar sector in Spain in 2008 and now in the UK have been avoided? Worldwide, feed-in tariffs are now the policy mechanism of choice for adding new renewables. They have eclipsed Renewable Portfolio Standards (Renewable Energy Standards) or other quota programs like Britain’s Renewable Obligation. Are they a success? 50% of the wind installed worldwide has been installed with feed-in tariffs, 75% of all solar PV, and nearly all the biogas. Of course the percentages are higher in Europe. Since 1997 85% of all wind in the EU has been built with feed-in tariffs, 70% of all biogas, and nearly all the solar PV. 23 of the EU27 now use feed-in tariffs in one form or another. No policy is im...